The Best Sugar-Saving Restaurant Swaps

No longer relegated to the candy bowl or cookie tray, added sugar is contributing heavily to our country’s obesity rates and health woes as it creeps into our packaged snacks, bottled drinks, and “healthy” meal options. Another place where sugar is souring your food? Your favorite restaurants. And with Americans consuming over 30 percent of their calories away from home (according to a 2012 study from the USDA Economic Research Service), it’s more important than ever to make sugar-smart choices when dining out.

Cooking at home is always yours safest sugar bet, but let’s be real: Sometimes life necessitates a meal out or a quick on-the-go snack. You already know that choosing an egg and cheese sandwich over a pastry will save you serious sugar calories, so we’re not going to tell you that. Instead, we're offering you the path of least resistance in your fight against the sweet stuff. The following list of swaps will satisy your cravings at your favorite chains with minimal sugar damage, and allow you to decide for yourself when and where you want to indulge.